https://www.scmp.com/rss/325289/feed Latest news and updates on healthcare and hospitals in Hong Kong, including medical issues, the impact of the city's ageing population, coronavirus pandemic and seasonal influenza outbreaks on the health system. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong is committed to helping mainland China’s medical and health standards “go global”, with a local minister hailing the city’s first time hosting a national medical conference as an event of “great significance”. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said Hong Kong was striving to meet the mainland’s certification requirements for a local stroke centre, following the accreditation of a heart disease treatment facility under national standards last year. Lo officiated at the opening of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:31:23 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan In the second of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Anthea Rowan examines the complexities of the autism spectrum, from the latest gut-health research to the move from awareness towards acceptance. While at university studying psychology and theatre, Dr Amanda Oswalt Visher worked with a three-year-old non-speaking autistic boy at an early childhood intervention centre. She noticed his movements were not random but followed a consistent pattern. To communicate... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348374/what-autism-understanding-spectrum-gut-brain-connection-masking-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348374/what-autism-understanding-spectrum-gut-brain-connection-masking-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A knife-wielding attacker with suspected mental illness who was shot twice by police in Hong Kong’s Kwai Chung has died after 10 days in hospital in a critical condition. The government on Tuesday confirmed the 43-year-old suspect, surnamed Chung, was pronounced dead at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung at 8.47pm on Monday. The incident occurred in the early hours of March 21 at the Kwai Chung section of Castle Peak Road, when three officers fired five rounds in total at the construction... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348463/knife-wielding-man-shot-hong-kong-police-dies-after-10-days-critical-condition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348463/knife-wielding-man-shot-hong-kong-police-dies-after-10-days-critical-condition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:05:37 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying An orthopaedist has been issued a public warning letter and reprimanded by Hong Kong’s medical watchdog after performing an unconventional bunion surgery without a patient’s informed consent. The Medical Council on Monday found Dr Daniel Wu Yiang guilty of professional misconduct on four charges after the patient at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital underwent a syndesmosis procedure, a soft-tissue bunion surgery advocated by the doctor, without sufficient information about the operation or any... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348419/orthopaedist-rebuked-over-performing-bunion-surgery-without-informed-consent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348419/orthopaedist-rebuked-over-performing-bunion-surgery-without-informed-consent?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:55:09 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun In the first of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Fiona Sun examines how the city can mobilise stronger support from the private sector to turn systemic hurdles into opportunities. Hong Kong parent Raymond Lam Yiu-wah says caring for his five-year-old autistic son has been a constant source of stress, as the boy requires his full attention. The 42-year-old auditor said his son, diagnosed with autism at the age of two, had yet to speak in full sentences and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348304/hong-kongs-autism-support-services-are-fragmented-can-private-sector-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348304/hong-kongs-autism-support-services-are-fragmented-can-private-sector-help?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:30:13 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok A probe has been launched into a serious medical incident in which a six‑year‑old boy’s heart stopped for about 16 minutes at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital after his breathing tube came loose from the ventilator. The hospital on Saturday said it was “deeply concerned” about the case. “The hospital has taken immediate measures to strengthen the monitoring of patients requiring ventilator care in the intensive care unit,” it said in a statement. “A root cause analysis panel will be set up to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348267/boys-heart-stops-16-minutes-after-tube-comes-loose-hong-kong-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348267/boys-heart-stops-16-minutes-after-tube-comes-loose-hong-kong-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:20:24 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial There is a growing need to address the lack of regular exercise among Hong Kong students. Turning back the clock to more physically active childhoods is not an option. Without action at home and school to maintain physical activity amid a digital lifestyle, today’s schoolchildren face a greater risk – and an earlier onset – of ill health. A government report for the 2024-25 school year says about 94 per cent of students do not get enough moderate to vigorous exercise, recommended for at least an... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348097/ounce-obesity-prevention-worth-kilo-cure-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348097/ounce-obesity-prevention-worth-kilo-cure-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The government’s new Action Plan on Weight Management aims to build a “healthier and more vibrant city” and its cross-sector approach is commendable. However, the citywide plan seems to be heavily anchored on a single Body Mass Index (BMI) data point. This risks sending a narrow... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347711/hong-kongs-weight-management-plan-bmi-should-be-one-data-point-among-many?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347711/hong-kongs-weight-management-plan-bmi-should-be-one-data-point-among-many?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A university in Hong Kong has launched an Alzheimer’s disease screening programme using locally developed blood-based testing technology – the first of its kind globally – which is expected to benefit 6,000 underprivileged elderly people over five years. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting one in 10 Hongkongers aged 60 or above, with prevalence increasing with age, according to a Department of Health report last year. Announcing the “NeuroCare Community Project” on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347591/hkust-launches-programme-offering-alzheimers-blood-based-test-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347591/hkust-launches-programme-offering-alzheimers-blood-based-test-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:04:04 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Tuen Mun Hospital has, for the first time in Hong Kong, used a non-invasive, MRI-guided ultrasound procedure to treat a Parkinson’s disease patient suffering from uncontrollable tremors, offering an alternative option for those affected by the condition. The hospital said it expected to provide the procedure to 40 patients within two years as part of further research into the new treatment. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive, incisionless procedure that uses... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:37 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has launched an investigation into the controversy over a social media image posted by a doctor showing him performing a resuscitation procedure inside a public hospital, sparking outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics. Jensen So, a doctor from the Kowloon West Cluster and a former contestant on ViuTV’s reality talent show King Maker III, posted the image on his Instagram account last Thursday. It has since been widely circulated on another social... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347463/hospital-authority-investigates-privacy-concerns-over-doctors-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347463/hospital-authority-investigates-privacy-concerns-over-doctors-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 06:18:23 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s medical insurance sector is walking something of a tightrope of late, buffeted by an ageing population and increasing demands from international markets. Finding a healthy balance will be vital for the city’s growth as a global financial hub. It is good that the Insurance Authority has pledged to undertake an in-depth analysis this year of medical insurance costs and available products, as well as review regulations to draw more international life insurance buyers. Clement Lau... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346965/medical-insurance-review-timely-move-sector-under-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346965/medical-insurance-review-timely-move-sector-under-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Self-regulation by a profession serving the public is fine, so long as it truly serves the public interest in practice. Otherwise it risks undermining public confidence. A case in point is the Medical Council of Hong Kong’s handling of public complaints. The Ombudsman has criticised its lengthy process, highlighting 11 cases that remained unresolved after more than a decade. The council is mostly made up of doctors. One case that caused a public outcry, an alleged medical blunder that left a boy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346870/medical-council-reform-must-prioritise-public-interest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346870/medical-council-reform-must-prioritise-public-interest?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu About 94 per cent of Hong Kong’s students do not get enough daily exercise and 17.5 per cent are overweight, authorities have warned, urging schools and parents to tackle the growing fitness crisis together. A government report released on Tuesday also flagged low fruit and vegetable intake, poor vision health and excessive recreational screen time among students. The findings were based on surveys and annual health assessments conducted by the Department of Health for the 2024-25 school year,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346918/94-hong-kong-students-are-couch-potatoes-175-overweight-study-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346918/94-hong-kong-students-are-couch-potatoes-175-overweight-study-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:39:11 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have proposed replacing Medical Council members who underperform rather than punishing them as part of an overhaul following a public outcry over a 15-year delay in an alleged medical blunder inquiry. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Sunday the government had no plans to impose rigid deadlines for each stage of complaint handling by the quasi-judicial body, saying the requirement was “asking the impossible” and the council would “be required to” set time... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:35:44 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The serious threat to health posed by obesity is a growing global problem, with more than a billion people around the world suffering from the disease. Hong Kong faces a challenge in reversing the worrying trend, which has seen the proportion of residents who are obese or overweight rise from 37.2 per cent in 2004 to 51.3 per cent in 2022. Action is needed. The city’s first comprehensive plan on weight management was launched by the government on March 4, to coincide with World Obesity Day. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346453/hong-kongs-war-obesity-will-result-healthier-society?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346453/hong-kongs-war-obesity-will-result-healthier-society?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Ambrose Li,William Yiu Ambrose Li,William Yiu Hong Kong’s physiotherapy sector has urged the government to expand employment opportunities for locally trained professionals, warning that severe funding cuts will lead to a glut of practitioners, with the surplus projected to exceed 2,000 by 2040. In a letter to the authorities, the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association pointed to hiring freezes and job losses at NGOs as a result of budget cuts, even as the government continued to subsidise the training of physiotherapists. “These developments... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:20:07 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Nearly 90 per cent of Hong Kong smokers cannot distinguish smuggled cigarettes from duty-paid ones under the government’s proposed plain packaging measures, a survey by an advocacy group has found. The Long-term Tobacco Policy Concern Group also urged authorities on Thursday to expand the function of the tobacco stamp duty system to allow consumers to scan QR codes and verify whether a pack had been taxed. “With the current packaging, consumers can tell if a pack is taxed based on the brand... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346327/group-warns-plain-packs-hinder-hongkongers-efforts-detect-smuggled-cigarettes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346327/group-warns-plain-packs-hinder-hongkongers-efforts-detect-smuggled-cigarettes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:53:32 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities plan to expand a pilot programme to cut the transfer time by 80 minutes for patients suffering from serious strokes to public hospitals equipped with relevant surgical facilities. The Hospital Authority said on Wednesday that the diversion programme, which was launched in December and is currently only available in the New Territories, would be gradually expanded to the whole city after sufficient data had been collected. Before the pilot scheme’s launch, ambulances would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346255/hong-kong-expand-scheme-cutting-stroke-patient-transfer-time-80-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346255/hong-kong-expand-scheme-cutting-stroke-patient-transfer-time-80-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:01:57 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is well served by its two traditional medical schools. A third school taking shape at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will add an innovative dimension to healthcare as well as a welcome boost to the supply of doctors. An emphasis on biotechnology and research, and the school’s ultimate location in the Northern Metropolis, near the Shenzhen tech hub, will foster partnerships and collaboration with the rest of the Greater Bay Area. The first intake of 50 students at... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:45:14 +0000 Paul Yip,Raymond Lap-Ming Tang,Isabel Chau Paul Yip,Raymond Lap-Ming Tang,Isabel Chau Hong Kong’s new budget is positioned to foster high-quality, inclusive growth through innovation and finance. Ahead of projections, a surplus of HK$2.9 billion (US$370.8 million) is now expected, largely due to the stronger-than-expected stock market and tax receipts. Reflecting a sound fiscal approach and forward thinking, the 2026-27 budget will maintain an operating surplus and allocate about 60 per cent of recurrent spending to vital sectors such as health, social welfare and education. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345183/why-hong-kong-must-make-mental-health-immediate-economic-priority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345183/why-hong-kong-must-make-mental-health-immediate-economic-priority?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Authorities have launched an investigation into a potential food poisoning cluster that has affected 53 trainees understood to be from the Hong Kong Police College. The Department of Health said on Saturday that 48 male and five female trainees, aged 20 to 40, had developed symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever since Thursday evening. It did not name the police college in its statement, only referring to the location as a training institute. A source confirmed to the South... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345824/health-authorities-probe-possible-food-poisoning-cluster-police-college?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345824/health-authorities-probe-possible-food-poisoning-cluster-police-college?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 12:12:01 +0000 Edith Lin,William Yiu Edith Lin,William Yiu A Hong Kong hospital has launched an investigation after an elderly patient with colon cancer died three weeks after surgeons carried out a medical procedure on the wrong organ. Tseung Kwan O Hospital said on Friday the 85-year-old patient died on Tuesday after undergoing stoma surgery on February 7. The procedure involved creating a surgical opening on the abdomen, known as a stoma, to alleviate an intestinal obstruction. In the time between the operation and her death, the patient was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345683/hong-kong-cancer-patient-dies-3-weeks-after-incorrect-incision-abdomen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345683/hong-kong-cancer-patient-dies-3-weeks-after-incorrect-incision-abdomen?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:05:00 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung One in three Hong Kong adults have moderate to severe symptoms of depression, almost triple the rate from 2012, with Generation Z respondents who spent a lot of time on screens affected the most, a survey has found. The biennial study, conducted by the Mental Health Association NGO and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), also found that 22 per cent of the 2,700 adult respondents turned to AI chatbots to manage their stress, which experts on Thursday described as “risky” as this could... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345606/warning-over-screen-time-and-chatbots-number-depressed-hits-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345606/warning-over-screen-time-and-chatbots-number-depressed-hits-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:45:15 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong has launched its first action plan on weight management, aiming to reduce the proportion of people who are overweight or obese to less than half the population in three years from the current 51.3 per cent of adults. On Wednesday, World Obesity Day, the Department of Health announced more than 40 measures, ranging from installing more weighing scales in government venues to exploring the inclusion of novel weight-loss injections in the drug formulary, in a bid to reverse the rising... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:48:43 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 20 per cent of the 50 places in the inaugural intake of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) new graduate medical school in 2028-29 may be reserved for non-local students, with most expected to come from mainland China, according to the institution. Applicants for the four-year graduate entry-level medicine programme must pass an international admission test, with the university preferring those with a background in biotechnology. According to HKUST, the tuition fee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:33:23 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung This series is based on our reporting on TCM: its history, treatments and growing acceptance around the world. This is the seventh instalment. In the world of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), few remedies carry the legendary status – or the hefty price tag – of Angong Niuhuang Wan, often referred to as the “miracle pill”. The old formula, consisting of 11 herbs and minerals, has long been revered as a top-grade emergency medicine, historically used to treat those who have had a stroke or may... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344680/how-tcms-miracle-pill-used-treat-strokes-experts-urge-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344680/how-tcms-miracle-pill-used-treat-strokes-experts-urge-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Mui Thomas is, by any measure, a remarkable woman. Now 33, she is believed to be the world’s fourth-oldest survivor of Harlequin ichthyosis. This extremely rare genetic disorder causes the body to be covered with thick plates of skin – a condition so severe that when Mui was born in Hong Kong in 1992, it was considered universally fatal. She has survived medical emergencies that would have killed lesser fighters. Despite her ongoing health struggles, she has become a rugby coach, a certified... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344406/parents-hong-kongs-girl-behind-face-share-their-story-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344406/parents-hong-kongs-girl-behind-face-share-their-story-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s public hospitals recorded a year-on-year decline of up to 15 per cent in the number of patients seeking emergency treatment during the first three days of the Lunar New Year holiday, following fee adjustments introduced at the start of the year. The decline was revealed on Friday by Dr Axel Siu Yuet-chung, chairman of the Hospital Authority’s coordinating committee in accident and emergency. He noted that accident and emergency departments (A&E) in public hospitals often became... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344086/hong-kong-public-hospitals-report-decline-emergency-visits-over-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344086/hong-kong-public-hospitals-report-decline-emergency-visits-over-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:15:53 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Food poisoning, while traumatic for victims, rarely draws wider attention unless there are clusters of cases. A spate of recent incidents linked to oysters served in Hong Kong must prompt quick action from the industry and health authorities to find the source, ensure safety and make changes to protect the city’s reputation. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety has identified dozens of cases linked to raw shellfish imported from South Korea, Spain and France.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343888/food-poisoning-cases-hong-kong-must-prompt-swift-mitigation-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343888/food-poisoning-cases-hong-kong-must-prompt-swift-mitigation-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Rachel Chan Rachel Chan Hong Kong stands at a definitive demographic crossroads. With one-third of our population projected to be over 65 by the 2040s, the city can either treat ageing as a fiscal burden or it can transform longevity into a sustainable growth engine. Drawing inspiration from Andrew Scott and Lynda Gratton’s work on the 100-Year Life project, Hong Kong should boldly embrace longevity as a new development frontier. By leveraging our unique strengths in finance, world-class regulatory frameworks and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Danny Mok,Theodora Yu Lo Hoi-ying,Danny Mok,Theodora Yu Some recent food poisoning cases in Hong Kong have been linked to raw oysters supplied by a company in Spain, prompting authorities to instruct the food trade to suspend imports and sales from the firm. The Centre for Food Safety revealed the latest results of its investigation into dozens of recent food poisoning cases on Friday night – hours after a restaurant chain told the South China Morning Post that raw oysters consumed by diners who fell ill came from France and were supplied by a Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343376/hong-kong-diners-urged-avoid-raw-oysters-more-food-poisoning-cases-found?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343376/hong-kong-diners-urged-avoid-raw-oysters-more-food-poisoning-cases-found?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:31:43 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words While the regional discourse remains focused on trade tensions and military posturing, a quieter threat is undermining Asia’s economic momentum: the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases. Across the region, non-communicable diseases now dominate mortality. In Hong Kong,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343141/why-cardiovascular-health-economic-imperative-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3343141/why-cardiovascular-health-economic-imperative-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 03:30:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Medical Council’s handling of complaints against doctors has been so slow and inefficient that there is truly no excuse not to get on with necessary reform expeditiously. The latest investigation by the city’s maladministration watchdog has renewed a sense of urgency for action. The council’s complaint mechanism was found to have systemic issues and inadequacies, resulting in a persistent backlog of cases. The revelation does nothing for the image of the medical profession and public... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343017/hong-kongs-medical-council-must-heed-diagnosis-ills-complaints-process?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343017/hong-kongs-medical-council-must-heed-diagnosis-ills-complaints-process?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Norovirus has fallen under the spotlight in Hong Kong following a series of food poisoning cases linked to raw oysters in eateries since January, with the latest incident added to the list taking place at the five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel. Between January 18 and Monday, the Centre for Health Protection recorded 37 food poisoning cases affecting 115 people. Of these, 33 cases – involving 101 individuals – were linked to norovirus. Epidemiological findings showed that all those affected by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343086/does-eating-raw-oysters-put-hongkongers-risk-norovirus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343086/does-eating-raw-oysters-put-hongkongers-risk-norovirus?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong authorities have ordered the food trade to stop selling raw oysters supplied by two local companies and a South Korean firm after their products were linked to 21 suspected food poisoning cases in the city. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) on Tuesday night revealed the results of an investigation into a spate of food poisoning incidents in recent weeks. Individuals involved in 10 cases had consumed oysters supplied by Seojun Mulsan Co Ltd in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343096/hong-kong-hotel-removes-seafood-items-its-restaurants-amid-food-poisoning-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343096/hong-kong-hotel-removes-seafood-items-its-restaurants-amid-food-poisoning-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:32:22 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A drug for diabetes-related kidney disease could be repurposed to restore fertility for women affected by premature ovarian insufficiency, a largely untreatable condition, according to a study by Hong Kong researchers. The study, conducted by experts at the faculty of medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), found that finerenone – a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes-related chronic kidney disease – could be used to awaken dormant small follicles in women and promote the development of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342937/repurposed-kidney-drug-may-offer-hope-infertile-women-hong-kong-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342937/repurposed-kidney-drug-may-offer-hope-infertile-women-hong-kong-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:18:51 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong took a long-awaited step in July 2025 when the Legislative Council passed amendments allowing patients to seek physiotherapy without a doctor’s referral. For people with common musculoskeletal conditions such as shoulder strain and neck pain, the reform was meant to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342629/meaningful-direct-access-physiotherapy-still-elusive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342629/meaningful-direct-access-physiotherapy-still-elusive?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s health authorities are investigating two food poisoning clusters linked to five people falling ill after eating raw oysters, adding to dozens of cases recorded in recent weeks. Officials also reminded residents on Sunday to maintain personal hygiene, as norovirus was more active in the winter months from December to March. The Centre for Health Protection reported that the latest two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters involved Chef’s Cuts at The Southside shopping... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342825/hong-kong-food-poisoning-cases-linked-raw-oysters-spike-27-1-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342825/hong-kong-food-poisoning-cases-linked-raw-oysters-spike-27-1-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 10:10:30 +0000 Dicky Chow,Dorothy Yeung Dicky Chow,Dorothy Yeung Hong Kong introduced a public hospital fee overhaul at the start of the year in response to long-standing pressures from an ageing population, rising chronic diseases and growing expenditure. Early data from the Hospital Authority suggests the fee increases are having an effect. From January 1-18, semi-urgent and non-urgent cases at accident and emergency (A&E) departments fell by 21.3 per cent year on year, while critical and emergency cases rose slightly, by 7.7 per cent. This indicates... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342286/fee-hikes-are-only-half-equation-if-hong-kong-health-reform-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342286/fee-hikes-are-only-half-equation-if-hong-kong-health-reform-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Vaccine scepticism is as old as the disease-fighting jabs themselves, but recently it has been a subplot in the political drama in the United States. Now, even globally respected advice from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has been changed. Understandably, many Hong Kong parents have been left confused after the US rolled back a long-standing recommendation for a universal birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Instead of being a routine mandatory shot, it is now listed as a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342609/hong-kong-right-hold-line-against-us-vaccine-scepticism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342609/hong-kong-right-hold-line-against-us-vaccine-scepticism?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A one-year-old girl may have suffered food poisoning after consuming Nestlé infant milk formula, Hong Kong authorities have said, while revealing they have received about 50 reports of children feeling unwell amid a growing contamination scare. The Centre for Food Safety separately ordered the immediate removal of 390 cans of Aptamil Profutura DUO Advance 1 (800g) from shelves, as officials expanded a citywide recall to include a second batch of the milk powder imported from Germany. The Centre... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342731/hong-kong-toddler-suspected-have-fallen-ill-tainted-milk-formula?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342731/hong-kong-toddler-suspected-have-fallen-ill-tainted-milk-formula?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:25:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have proposed requiring the Medical Council to set a time frame for handling complaints, following a public backlash over a 15-year delay to an inquiry into an alleged medical blunder that left a child permanently disabled. The Health Bureau on Friday also proposed reforming the composition of the watchdog, bringing in doctors with more diverse backgrounds and qualifications, and increasing the proportion of lay members, who only accounted for eight of the 32-strong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342725/medical-council-set-time-frame-sorting-complaints-under-proposed-shake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342725/medical-council-set-time-frame-sorting-complaints-under-proposed-shake?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:46:46 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Patients with advanced lung cancer who receive a certain therapy earlier in the day survive longer, a study has found, with a Hong Kong medical expert saying the discovery opens possibilities for optimal treatment times, although more research is needed. The study was led by academics from Hunan Cancer Hospital in mainland China and supported by the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s faculty of medicine. The research showed that immunochemotherapy administered before 3pm nearly doubled the length... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342699/patients-given-more-hope-study-finds-best-time-lung-cancer-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342699/patients-given-more-hope-study-finds-best-time-lung-cancer-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:40:33 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s health authorities have warned of a recent “drastic increase” in norovirus-related food poisoning incidents that are all related to raw oyster consumption, with 20 of them being recorded over the past 2½ weeks. The Centre for Health Protection said on Thursday that it had received 23 reports of food poisoning, involving 69 patients, since January 18. Among them, 20 cases affecting 57 people were related to norovirus, which typically causes food poisoning and acute... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342562/drastic-increase-food-poisoning-cases-hong-kong-linked-raw-oysters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342562/drastic-increase-food-poisoning-cases-hong-kong-linked-raw-oysters?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:29:34 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s ombudsman has found that the Medical Council’s complaint-handling processes are excessively lengthy and plagued by a persistent backlog of cases, urging the watchdog and authorities to hasten procedures to uphold public confidence. The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday released its investigation findings into the effectiveness of administrative support provided by the secretariat under the Department of Health for the council’s complaint handling and the government’s regulatory... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342547/hong-kong-ombudsman-slams-medical-councils-excessively-long-complaints-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342547/hong-kong-ombudsman-slams-medical-councils-excessively-long-complaints-system?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:19:15 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s food safety watchdog has recalled a batch of Aptamil powdered infant milk formula over fears it may be contaminated with a toxin found in similar products. The Centre for Food Safety said on Tuesday evening that a local retailer had sold “a small quantity” of a batch suspected to contain cereulide, prompting a precautionary recall. The affected product is Aptamil Profutura DUO Pre D 800g, with a use-by date of April 20, 2027. The watchdog said it had earlier learned that German... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342336/hong-kong-recalls-aptamil-baby-milk-formula-batch-over-toxin-contamination-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342336/hong-kong-recalls-aptamil-baby-milk-formula-batch-over-toxin-contamination-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:18:11 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities have found traces of a toxin in another five samples of Nestlé baby milk formula, marking the second such discovery since batches of the firm’s products were withdrawn over contamination fears. The Centre for Food Safety said on Monday night that during its ongoing follow-up investigations, five samples among 22 batches recalled earlier tested positive for the toxin cereulide, produced by the Bacillus cereus bacterium. The toxin levels ranged from 0.2 to 1.3 micrograms per... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342152/traces-toxin-found-more-nestle-baby-milk-formula-samples-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342152/traces-toxin-found-more-nestle-baby-milk-formula-samples-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:02:04 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li More private hospitals in Hong Kong are expected to join the government’s free newborn screening programme for rare genetic conditions this year, according to health authorities. The scheme tests newborns for inherited metabolic disorders, enabling early identification and treatment while easing the long-term burden on the public healthcare system. The programme, launched in 2020, already covers all babies born in public hospitals. Last year, the screening was extended to two private ones under... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342134/hong-kong-aims-enlist-more-private-hospitals-free-newborn-screening-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342134/hong-kong-aims-enlist-more-private-hospitals-free-newborn-screening-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:10:17 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The use of weight-loss drugs has transformed the treatment of obesity, a chronic disease so prevalent globally it has been described as an epidemic. Injections that suppress appetite have changed the lives of millions. The new drugs were endorsed conditionally by the World Health Organization in December and are seen as a powerful clinical tool offering hope. But the injections come with health risks and common side effects. It is essential that they are only taken under medical supervision.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341827/properly-supervised-weight-loss-drugs-have-place-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341827/properly-supervised-weight-loss-drugs-have-place-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:45:09 +0000